DNVN – To celebrate World Mental Health Day on October 10, Dong A University (Da Nang) organized the program “Identifying and caring for mental health in schools” to create a bridge for young people to talk about mental health.
The program was attended by representatives from hospitals, psychological counseling centers, schools in Da Nang city and more than 400 students from the Psychology department and other departments of Dong A University.
Dong A University launches a program to screen and care for mental health among students and lecturers.
According to People's Physician, BSCKII Lam Tu Trung - Vice President of Vietnam Psychotherapy Association, Director of the Center for Counseling and Mental Health Care of Dong A University, in general, young people today often face a lot of pressure from studying, family expectations, economic and health problems, the impact of social networks, school violence... which tend to increase and become more complicated.
“Just looking at school-related factors affecting the mental health and comprehensive development of adolescents, as announced by UNICEF in Vietnam in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training, about 20% of adolescents have mental health problems. This is both a cause, a manifestation, and a consequence of the pressures that students are under,” said Dr. Lam Tu Trung.
According to him, there are many reasons why many young people are reluctant to talk about mental health. It could be due to the young people's incorrect awareness of mental health, fear of facing discrimination from the community... Moreover, the general mentality of young people is that they are fine and can "heal" their own psychological injuries. Not to mention, there are some who do not accept that they have symptoms of mental disorders, or are shy and afraid of the views of those around them about examining and treating mental disorders.
On this occasion, a cooperation program on mental health care in schools was also signed between Dong A University and Gia Vien kindergarten system; Phan Chau Trinh High School; Hy Vong Primary, Secondary and High School.
Accordingly, in the 2024-2025 school year, educational psychology experts from Dong A University will promote mental health screening, consultation and therapy activities for students, teachers... according to a specific roadmap, as well as periodically coordinate to organize psychology and life skills seminars for the above subjects.
At the same time, creating a bridge for young people to talk about mental health, the Young Lion Institute for Soft Skills Research and Training (Dong A University) also officially launched a program to screen and care for mental health among students and lecturers throughout the school.
Mental health counselors for students at Dong A University.
The program will be held throughout October 2024 in addition to regular activities at the school's Psychological Counseling Room. Additional consultation desks with doctors and psychologists directly participating will be placed in the lobby to support identification and coordination of early intervention after screening for students and lecturers.
Also within the framework of the program "Identifying and taking care of mental health in schools" on the morning of October 10, the topic "Dating with happiness" is a close and easy-to-understand way for Dr. Nguyen Hoang Khac Hieu - a psychology expert to convey the content about mental health care in schools.
Through anxiety assessment scales, the speakers helped students present at the program directly identify the signs and levels of mental fatigue, thereby accessing diverse self-recovery therapy groups.
Following the topic was an open dialogue between students and experts and guests on identifying and caring for mental health. Led by successful “cases” treated by psychiatrists, and by the “characters’” stories of their experiences after experiencing and overcoming them, the forum helped students “decode” mental health issues that young people are often reluctant to talk about, especially common peer pressure, and find positive “healing therapies” for themselves.
On this occasion, student Phan Thi Huong Tra - valedictorian of 2024 Psychology major at Dong A University was honored and received the Seed Season scholarship from the Faculty of Education worth 10 million VND. Previously, at the opening ceremony of the 2024-2025 school year, Huong Tra also received the full Cherry Blossom Talent Scholarship worth 100% of the full tuition fee for the entire course.
It is known that the series of mental health care programs for high school students of Dong A University in 2024 has also reached thousands of students in the Central Highlands provinces since the beginning of 2024.
Chi Tran
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